w. 


UC-NRLF 

IIIIIIIIIIIJ 


UJ 


Prepared  by 

Department  of 

Meteorology  and  Aeronautics 

Los  Angeles  Chamber  of  Commerce 

and  published  in  "  The  Ace"  of  Jan.,    JH.'d 


Photographing  Clouds 
From  An  Airplane 


UNITED  STATES  AEMY  AIE  SERVICE  JN  4-H.S.  No.  41913 

July  17,  1919,  1:14  p.  m.  Camera  faced  SE 
ThiK  plane  was  used  in  the  makinfi  of  the  cloud  photographs 

Pilot:  Lt.  H.  E.  Queen,  A.  S.  (A) 
Passenger:  Meterologist  Ford  A.  Carpenter 

Photographing  Clouds  From  An  Airplane 

By  FORD  A.  CARPENTER* 


B 


Photographs  by  the  Author 

(Copyright  1919  by  the  Author  and  The  Ace  Publishing  Co.) 

KING  out  of  kodak  films  the  writer  o'clock,  motored  to  March  field,  took  a 
dropped  down  from  a  ten  thou-  JN-4  and  having  used  up  the  last  of  my 
sand  foot  altitude,  requisitioned  kodak  films  dropped  down  here  to  get 


pose  of  photographing  the  higher  variety 
of  summer  clouds  and  studying  them  at 
close  range.  Incidentally  it  was  to 


Coronado.    Sauntering  into  the  cool 
spacious   lobby   of   the    Hotel   del    Cor 
nado  he  asked  the  clerk  the  way 


cloud  photographing  trip."     The  flannel- 
clad  individual  flipped  the  ash   from   his 


The       cle 
er    Weath 
d     greeted     h 


photograph      departmen 

recognized  him  as  the 

Man    at    San    Diego 

heartily.    "Won't  you  st 

ner  with  us?"     "No,"  I 

ised  Frank  Miller,  Mas 

Riverside,  when  I  lunched  there  this 

ternoon,  to  dine  with  him  on  my  retu 

this  evening."     As   I   turned   to   buy   t 


panion  and  ejaculated:  "Here's  where  my 
ten  thousand  dollar  Rolls-Royce  goes 
into  the  discard." 


eplied,  "I  pro 
of  the  Inn 


the  early  superceding  of  the  automobile 
by  the  airplane  by  people  who  want  to 


fortably.  All  air-lanes  are  direct  and 
smooth  although  in  rare  cases  perhaps 
kodak  films  one  of  the  flannel-clad  bored-  a  trifle  billowy.  While  the  aviator  should 
'looking  individuals  who  had  heard  the  be  competent  to  "stunt"  in  an  emerg- 
conversation,  detained  me  with  "Beg  ency  it  should  be  no  more  the  rule  to 
your  pardon,  but  did  I  hear  correctly?  practise  acrobatics  in  the  air  than  for 
That  you  had  lunched  this  afternoon  at  the  ordinary  touring  car  to  emulate  a 

o'clock  tonight?"     "Sure,"   I    replied,   "I          The  three  hundred  mile  cross-country 
left   the    Mission    Inn   shortly   after    one       flight  of  last  July  was  made  for  the  pur- 


air  levels,  continuing  this  work  begun  in 
June.  Most  of  my  investigation  into  air 
levels  of  southern  California  has  been 

during  a  dozen  or  more  flights  during  all 
hours  of  the  day  and  night. 

Recognizing  the  importance  of  aerial 
mapping  and  cloud  studies  from  aloft, 
the  Director  of  Air  Service  kindly 
placed  a  two-seater  and  an  experienced 
pilot,  Lieut.  H.  E.  Queen  at  my  disposal 
for  the  afternoon,  with  apologies  to  Rus- 
kin  he  proved  to  be  the  "Queen  of  the 
Air."  I  decided  to  make  the  triangular 
course  from  Riverside  to  San  Diego  and 
along  the  coast  from  San  Diego  to  Los 
Angeles  and  thence  to  the  place  of  start- 
ing. The  accompanying  photographs 
with  their  notes  were  all  made  by  the 
writer  while  in  the  air.  Following  out 
a  custom  inaugurated  early  in  1911, 


ind    Aeronautics 


Chamber  of  Comr 
in  charge  of  the 
work.— EDITOR. 


the   Los   Angel  e.5 
take   up   his  new 


when  air  work  was  first  begun  by  him, 
a  five-minute  log  was  kept.  The  im- 
portance of  making  one's  notes  and 
sketches  at  regular  intervals  at  the  time 


believe  that  most  of  the  errors  of  ob- 
servation are  those  which  creep  into 
notes  made  afterwards,  and  doubtless, 
are  unintentionally  colored  by  the  im- 
agination. 

Geography  of  the  Trip 

The  sketcli  map  on  this  page  will  give 

cross  country  flight  taken  on  July  17th. 
1919. 

Probably  there  is  no  region  in  the 
world,  at  least  in  the  United  States, 
where  weather  conditions  are  so  nearly 

as    in    southern    California. 


were  duplicate  instruments.  In  the  rear 
were  lockers  which  were  easily  acces- 
sible holding  spare  films  and  the  baro- 
graphs so  that  from  the  very  first  it  was 
easy  to  make  frequent  photographs  and 
five  minute  notes  and  sketches  through- 


Original   Notes 

Carrying  out  the  plan  which  has  long 
^ince  become  a  habit  in  making  air 
lotes.  memorandum  notations  were 
naJe  at  five-minute  intervals,  through- 


rection  of  course  and 
data  as  to  clouds,  air 
were  noted. 


nder   "remarks" 
conditions,    etc., 


Note  Book  Entri 


Xote    book    of   airplane    flight    of    July 
,   1919,  shows  the  following  summary: 


journey  was  requested  of  tlie  Director 
of  Air  Service.  It  will  be  note.l  that 
tlie  route  is  triangular  in  shape  and  the 
course  is  from  March  Field  nearly  south 
to  Rockwell  Field,  and  from  Rockwell 
Field  skirting  tlie  coast  northwesterly 
to  DeMille  Field,  and  from  DeMille 
Field  easterly  to  the  point  of  depart- 
ure. 

Physiography   of  the   Cross-Country 
Flight 

The  various  physical  characteristics 
of  this  portion  of  southern  California 
are  practically  all  covered  in  this  tri- 


Xo.  1  I.v  March  Field  1:15 
Ar  Rockwell  F'ld  2:21 

Xo.  2  Lv  Rockwell  F'ld  3:39 
Ar  DeMille  Field  5:27 

No.  3  I.v  Rockwell  F'ld  6:02 
Ar  March  Field  6:57 


76      90 
108     130 


Flight   No.   1 

Date.  July  17.  1919. 
Airplane  Xo.  41913. 
Started  from  March  Fiel 


SKETCH    MAP   OF    TRIP 

•mil-    uf    fli/ihl    in    iinlictil,;!    hi/    lln- 
illrx.        II      ifill     III'     Illltl'll     Hint     the 


a   region 
fall   and  1 


rai 


IStlCS. 

The   second    portion    skirts   the   beauti- 
ful    southern    California    coast    with    its 

highly  colored  cliffs.  Such  is  the  prox- 
imity of  a  number  of  natural  lan.ling 
fields  that  an  airplane  may  safely  nego- 
tiate comparatively  long  stretclies  of 
coast  with  the  sea  directly  beneath  him. 
The  third  phase  of  the  journey,  from 
DeMille  Field  on  the  western  outskirts 
of  Los  Angeles  to  Riverside,  is  a  dis- 
trict which  is  agriculturally  probably 
the  most  valuable  in  the  United  States. 
Over  tliis  district  the  perfume  of  orange 
and  lemon  blossoms  is  carried  upward 
thousands  of  feet. 

Take  Off  at  March  Field 
After  being  introduced  to  my  pilot, 
Lieut.  H.  K.  Queen,  we  walked  over  and 
selecte.l  a  machine  which  had  the  neces- 
sary facilities  for  making  notes  and  tak- 
ing pictures.  This  machine  proved  to  be 
a  JN4-Hispano-Suiza  motor  with  over- 
head gasoline  supply  and  in  all  one  of 
the  best  for  this  purpose  of  the  hundred 
or  so  on  March  Field. 

Ideal  Arrangement  of  Rear  Cockpit 

The    rear   cockpit    had    a    comfortable 

seat,  with  a  narrow  bench  above  which 


Duration  of  flight.  1  hour.  16  minutes 

Distance.    90    miles. 

Maximum  altitude.  10.000  feet  at  2:25  p.  in. 

Pilot.  Second   Lieut.   H.   K.  Queen,  A.  S.   (A.)  at   Marcl 
Passenger:   Dr.  Ford  A.  Carpenter,  Meteorologist. 


nsurpaaaed 


Record  of  Voyage 

Time  in  use  in  summer  time.  1  hour  faster  than  Standard  Normal  12()t 

Altitudes  are  above   sea  level. 

Time.  Altitude  Ft.     Dir.  Notes 

1:15  p.m.       1.500     S.  At  second  minute  after  .start  altitude  2.800. 

1:20  p.m.       3.IXK)     S.S.I'-.          Air  somewhat  bumpy. 
1  -25  i)  in        3600     S  S   F  Ship  alternately   lifting  and   settling,  like  g 


1 :40  p 
1 :45  p 
1 :50  p 


2:20  p.  i 
2:25  p.; 
2:30p.i 


4,500 
5.200 

5,900 
6. 1 50 
6.550 
6.870 

7.100 

7,800 
7.950 


8.910 

10,000 

700 


S.  S.  F. 


ngtl 


Clouds  now  reach  to  xenith,  course  veered  t 

swaying   slightly. 
Above    cumulus    clouds;    on    level     with     cir 

Sprinkles  of  rain. 

Course  apparently  bringing  sliip  into  a  rain 
Passing  over  cumulo-nimbus  masses,  having 

istics   of  cirro-cumulus. 
First  view  of  San  Diego  b-iy;  ocean  is  seen  tc 

covered. 

Heavy  clouds  observed  over  sea. 
Clouds  now  seen  to  be  skirting  coast-line. 


Ship 
ratus. 


2:31  p.r 


Landed    Rockwell    Field.       Reported     to     commanding 


tion  officer  furnished  car  and  driver  for  Meteor- 
ologist Carpenter  to  secure  photographic  supplies 
from  Coronado. 


Flight  No.  2 

Date,  July   17,   1919. 
Airplane  No.  41913. 

Started. from  Rockwell  Field  3:39  p.  m. 
Landed  De  Mille  Field,  Los  Angeles,  5:27  p.  m. 
Duration  of  flight,  1   hour,  48  minutes. 
Distance,  130  miles. 

Maximum  altitude,  6650  feet  at  5:11  p.  m. 
General  direction  of  travel.  Northwest. 
Personnel,  equipment   and  load,   same  as   Flight   No. 
Time.  Altitude  Ft.     Dir.  Not 


3:39  p.m. 

0 

Diego. 

3:45  p.m. 

2,250 

N. 

W. 

Above  velo  clouds. 

3:50  p.m. 

3,100 

N. 

Over  Pacific   Beach. 

3:55  p.m. 

4.100 

N. 

Over  La  Jolla. 

4:00  p.m. 

4,200 

N. 

Over  open  sea. 

4:05  p.m. 

4,050 

N. 

W. 

Over  sea  off   Encinitas. 

4:10  p.m. 

4,050 

N: 

W. 

Off  Oceanside. 

4:15  p.m. 

4,050 

N. 

W. 

Passed  Oceanside. 

4:20  p.m. 

4,050 

N. 

W. 

Last  of  fog;  Ci-Cu  clouds  in   north. 

4:25  p.m. 

4,075 

N. 

W. 

Santa  Ana  Mountains  to  east. 

4:30  p.m. 

3,975 

N.  W. 

Off  San  Onofre. 

4:35  p.m. 

4,050 

N. 

W. 

Ship  somewhat  unsteady. 

4:40  p.m. 

4,300 

N. 

W. 

Nearirfg  Laguna  Beach. 

4:45  p.m. 

4,900 

N". 

W. 

Nearing  Newport. 

4:50  p.m. 

5,050 

N. 

W. 

Off  Seal  Beach. 

4:55  p.m. 

5,400 

N. 

W. 

Ship  headed  landward. 

5  :00  p.m. 
5:05  p.m. 

6,100 
6.150 

N. 

W. 

Over  Long  Beach;  Signal  Hill.    Bunch  of  clouds  over 

Santa  Monica  bay. 

5:10  p.m. 

6,500 

N. 

W. 

Nigger   Slough   off  port  bow.     Cumulo-nim.   clouds   on 

crest   of  north   mountains. 

5:15  p.m. 

5,300 

N. 

W. 

Nearing    Los    Angeles.      Haze    limit    at    4,000   feet    ele- 

vation. 

5:20  p.m. 

4,600 

N. 

Over  Exposition  Park. 

5:27  p.m. 

200 

Landed  De  Mille  Field.     Secured  oil  and  gasoline. 

Flight  No.  3 
Date  July  17,  1919. 
Airplane   No.   41913. 

Started  from  De  Mille  Field  6:02  p.  m. 
Landed  March  Field  6:57  p.  m. 
Duration  of  flight,  55  minutes. 
Distance,  60  miles. 
Maximum  altitude,  4,030  feet,  at  6:55  p.  m. 


Time.  Altitude  Ft.     Dir. 


6:02  p.m. 
6:05  p.m. 
6:10p.m. 
6:15  p.m. 
6:20  p.m. 
6:25  p.m. 
6:30  p.m. 
6:35  p.m. 
6:40  p.m. 
6:45  p.m. 

6:50  p.m. 
6:55  p.m. 
6:57  p.m. 


200 
1,300 
2,200 
3,000 
3.500 
3,200 
3.100 
3,100 
3,000 
3,000 

3,900 
4,030 
1,500 


S.  .E 

E. 

N.E. 

N.  E. 

N.E. 

N.  E. 

E. 

E. 

E. 

E. 
E. 


off  port  bow. 
s  Angeles  rive 


grov 


nd  load,  same  as  Flight   No.   1. 
Notes 

Left  De  Mille  Field. 
Over  Los  Angeles,  business  dis 
Over  Los  Angeles,  passed  over  Los 
Over  Newmark. 

Whittier  to  starboard.     Over  orange 
Over  San  Gabriel  debris  cone.     Over  orange  groves. 
Over  San  Jose  hill;  bump  near  hill;  over  orange  groves. 

Haze  lowering  to  1,000  feet.     Over  orange  groves. 
Going   through   deep   gorge,   crests   less   than   800   feet 

below  ship. 

Over  Riverside.     Over  orange  groves. 
Entering  Allesandro.     Engine  off. 
Landed. 


7SOO  ft.  2:0o  p.  m.  July  17,   191!) 
faced  downwards 


DIJiKCTLY  01'KH  CfJlltO-CUMVLUS 
CLOUDS 

Kler. 

Ca 

The  first  variety  of  cirro-cumulus  clouds 
was  encountered  at  7800  feet;  within  15 
minutes  the  sln/i  passed  over  better  example, 
a  trifle  over  a  thousand  feet  higher.  The 
more  elevated  clouds  were  of  a  detached  na- 
ture and  had  a  lower  temperature.  Owing 
to  the  Ixickaround  of  earth,  these  clouds 
showed  up  to  better  advantage  than  against 
the  sJ-w. 


The 


CLOUD    NOTES 
Cumulo-Nimbus 

formations  were   observed  over 

9  a.  m.,  July  17.  The  best  example  of 
Cu.-Nim.  was  observed  to  the  S.  W. 
nearly  in  the  path  of  the  first  flight.  At 
1:40  p.  m.,  elevation  5,900  feet,  the  ship 
headed  into  a  well  marked  example  of 
Cu.-Nim.  Five  minutes  later  and  250 


et    highe 


Ci.-Cu.     At   1:50 


should  comprise  as  much  as 


study       changes     in     weather     conditions.       The 
half  of       clouds,   by   their   character,   indicate    the 
observer's   position   and   proximity    with 
reference   to   the   low   pressure   area. 

Clouds  and  Storm  Centers 
A  moment's  reflection  shows  that  the 
true  direction,  as  well  as  the  force  ol 
the  drift  of  the  earth's  atmosphere,  as 
depicted  by  the  clouds,  is  conclusive  as 
a  weather  indication  only  in  that  it  de- 
termines the  relative  position  and  inten- 
sity of  the  storm  center. 

""Weather"   Is  Under  20,000   Feet 
The  layer  of  cloud  covering  the  earth 
is  relatively  very  thin.     If,  for  example, 
we    could    examine    the    earth    from    the 

cloud  covering  little  more  than\  half  the 
surface.  At  that  distance  the  clouds 
would  have  no  texture,  the  earth  would 
appear  swathed  in  an  irregular  sheet  of 
formless  vapor,  through  which,  from 
time  to  time,  the  land  and  water  areas 
could  be  seen. 

The  cloud-cover  of  the  earth  is  most 
attenuated;  it  may  be  compared  to  a 
film,  for  it  is  supposed  to  be  less  than 


6.550     feet     e 

reach  the  xei 

Weather  Belt  Is   Very  Thin 

Clouds  Are  Best  Weather  Indicators 


The   si: 
2:20  p. 


The  sky  was  covered 


tli'n>e  out  at  sea  10  or  12  miles. 

Velo 

These  clouds  were  first  encountere.l  in 
the  vicinity  of  San  Diego  bay.  The  velo 
cloud  is  distinctly  associated  with  San 
Diego;  no  other  locality  can  lay  claim 
to  it  in  such  perfection  as  it  exists  within 
that  district.  This  cloud  persisted  until 
about  4:35  p.  m.  at  4.050  elevation,  or  off 
San  Juan  Capistrano. 

Cloud    Study    From    the    Ground 


1  have  recounted  some  of  the  aspects  of 
cloud  classification,  cloud  composition, 
and  cloud  formation.  As  bearing  directly 
on  the  matter  in  hand  this  monograph 
of  California  clouds  will  be  freely  drawn 
upon. 

Observations  of  Coluds 

to  the  weather  in  the  different  air  levels, 
and  too  much  emphasis  cannot  be  laid 
upon  the  importance  of  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  cloud  structure,  cloud 


JXtriil.K   Hfl'TK,    I'KKHIX    VA1.LKY    (Kl.KI'.   3fi 


le  to  the  left.  The  San  Bernardino 
this  portion  of  the  voya(/<-  Ilif  xhiii 
in  in'(/oti(itinff  a  long  swell. 


veatl 


ed   withi 


forecasting  with    the   least   pre-  weather  is 

her  observations  than  the  char-  Four  Classes  of  Clouds 

*  Clouds  of  California  by  Ford  A.  Car-       acter   and    movement     of    clouds.       And  Cirrus: 

penter.    Ft.    Leavenworth    Army    Press,      now,  at  the  present  stage  of  the  knowl-  Cirro-stratus. 
1914.                                                                         edge   of  meterology,   they   still  give   the 


Cirro-cumu 


CKESTS   OF  CISSO-CUMULUS  CLOUDS 
Elev.  6550  ft.  1:50  p.  m.  July  17,  1919 

Camera  faced  SE 

Rcloic,  there  appeared  masses  of  cumulo- 
nimbus clouds  which  reached  their  maximum 
density  in  the  east;  above  there  were  higher 
cirro-cumulus  clouds  through  which  fringe 
the  ship  passed. 

In   a  few   minutes   the  ship   passed  from 
one  clump  of  cirro-cumulus  cloud  to  another, 
much  as  a   ha  irk  might,   fin   from   one  hay- 
stack to  another;  hut  with  tin:  inference  in 
that    the    cloud    formation    was  .frequently 
traversed. 
Cumulus: 
Alto-cumulus. 
Fracto-cumulus. 
Stratus: 
Alto-stratus. 
Strato-cumulus. 
Fracto-stratus.     . 
Nimbus: 

Cumulo-nimbus. 
Fracto-nimbus. 

To  the  above  general  classification 
there  may  be  added  a  local  cloud,  el  velo, 
sometimes  known  as  "high  fog."  El  velo 
is  the  common  cloud  of  early  morning 
and  late  evening.  Of  this,  however,  more 
win  be  said  later. 

Clouds  in  the  Making 
It   is   not   often   given   one   to   select  a 

evidence.  First  I  thought  that  there 
would  be  insufficient  clouds  on  the  day 
selected,  and  later,  from  the  threatening 


the  mountains  and  in  the  high  levels,  it 
seemed  as  if  there  might  be  too  many, 
varieties  of  the  sterner  sort.  Fortune 
again  favored  me  and  we  had  on  this 


be  the  fog,  the  cloud-mass  shows  by  its  great  convectional  clouds.  Generally 
presence  that  precipitation  is  taking  speaking  they  are  thick  and  dense  and 
place.  Their  height  defines  their  rela-  their  tops  are  smaller  than  their  bases, 
tive  density.  As  they  are  caused  by  ascending  cur- 
Here  are  the  general  classifications:  rents,  their  life  is  dependent  upon  the 


when   the   air   ceases   to   rise,   the   cloud 

disappears.      During    the    ascent    of    the 

ounding    balloons    at    Avalon,    Catalina 

sland,   in  the   summer  of   1913,  especial 

are  had  to  be  taken  not  to  let  loose  the 

lloons  during  the  proximity  of  cumu- 

5  clouds,  as  they  were  the  danger  sig- 


•its. 


Stratus,  the  Low  Cloud 


CUMUl.O-XIMlU'fl    ("THUNDER 

HEADS")   CLOUDS 
Elev.  7JOO  ft.  2:00  p.  m.  July  17.  1919 

Camera  faced  SE 

This  close  view  of  thunder-clouds  was  ob- 
tained during  intervals  of  rain.  The  upper 
portion  of  the  clouds  were  rounded  and  bil- 
lowy. This  formation  appeared  to  boil  and 
seethe,  the  temperature  became  lower  by  10 
degrees  and  nearby  cumulo-nimbus  clouds 
rose  lilce  mountains  of  cloud  or  fog. 

Cirrus,  the   Highest  Cloud 
This    is   of   delicate    fiber,    feathery    in 


the  low  kinds  were  not  too  low,  and  the 
higher  kinds  were  not  too  high.  Per- 
haps it  might  be  as  well  to  examine, 
briefly,  into  the  composition  of  clouds, 
and,  later,  in  the  mechanics  of  cloud  for- 
mation. 

Composition  of  Clouds 
Clouds    occur   whenever   the   tempera- 
ture is  lower  than  the  saturation-point  of 
the  air,  so  that  no  matter  how  light  or 
fleecy  they  may  be,   or  how   dense   may 


the   most  elevated   of  all   clouds,  having 

sometimes  extending  into  the  lower  limit 
of  the  so-called  isothermal  region  of  the 
atmosphere.  This  cloud  is  doubtless 
composed  of  spiculae  of  ice.  A  popular 
name  for  this  cloud  is  "mare's  tails,"  and 
it  is  the  wind  cloud  of  the  sailors. 

Cumulus,  the  Day  Cloud 

The  typical  summer  clouds  that  thrust 

their  heads  up  into  the  air — they  are  the 


ness,  independent  of  height,  characteriz- 
es this  cloud.  When  it  is  of  low  altitude 
it  sometimes  becomes  the  velo  cloud. 
The  stratus  cloud  is  of  considerable 
value  as  an  insulator  of  the  sun's  rays, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  almost  entirely 
checks  the  loss  of  heat  by  radiation  from 
the  earth  at  night.  May  and  June  would 

California  were  it  not  for  the  then  pre- 
vailing cloud.  In  winter,  citrus  grow- 
ers know  that  there  will  be  no  frost  if 
stratus  clouds  are  present,  for  they  serve 


CIRKO-STKATUS  CLOUDS 

Elev.  7950  ft.  2:10  p.  m.  July  17,  1919 

Camera  faced  E 

Excellent  examples  of  cirro-stratus  clouds 
were  observed  and  this  photograph  shows  a 
distant  and  a  close-up  view  of  these  clouds. 
Although  the  texture  of  these  clouds  ap- 
peared to  be  identical,  a  solar  halo  was  ob- 
served, in.  sections,  among  the  distant  cloiids 
but  was  not  noticed  in  the  nearby  examples. 


modification  of  these  variet 
following  modifications: 

Cirro-Stratus 


I. .IKK  IIOIHiKX  (>\  TIIK  ,s'. I. V  DIEGUITt 

/.•//•/•:/;  (Ki.Kr.  TH.-.H  AT.) 

J:  I-    />.    »>.   ./»/v    17,    lit  111 


Nimbus,  the  Rain  Cloud 

The    rain    .-loud:    technically    it   is   any 

cloud   mass   from   which   precipitation   is 

falling.     It  always  forms  under  a  higher 

variety  of  cl.md. 

Modification   of   Cloud   Forms 

These   four  are   the   general   classifica- 

tion    of    clouds    all    over    the    world       -\ 


ves  the      solar  and  lunar  halos  of  22°  and  45°  radii. 

Cirro-Cumulus 
Cirro-cumulus     forms     in     semi-trans- 

;,niished  by  the  fact  that  in  it  arc  formed  that  forms  suddenly  and  marks  the  tran- 

the    halos.      The    diffraction    of    light   by  sitory    stage    between    a    higher    and    a 

this    cloud    produces    rings    around    the  lower  variety,  or  vice  versa.     This  cloud 

sun  and  moon,  technically  known  as  the  was    very     much     in     evidence     within     a 


C.IMP  KK.IKNY  O.V  LI\DA    I'/.ST.I   MK, 
Elevation  9500  /(.  •_':!' I   ;<.   in.  Ciniiri-ii  fni'nl  , 


tin-  photograph.     Kn 


rliirli   liixrrtK 
ray   i*   north 


KAN  DIEGO    EXPOSITION   BUILDIVC.S 
Elev.  8000  ft.  2:22  p.  m.  July   17,  1919 

Camera  faced  downwards 
Crossing  the  San  Diego  River  the  path  of 
the  ship  led  over  the  San  Diego  Park  in 
which  are  located  the  buildings  of  the  San 
Diego  Exposition  of  1915,  now  uaed  by  the 
United  States  Marines. 

quarter  of  an  hour  after  leaving  March 
Field.  It  was  like  sailing  from  one 
aerial  haystack  to  another,  so  well-de- 
fined were  these  round  cloudy  masses. 
When  this  cloud  is  accompanied  by 

rain  indication  that  we  have  in  Southern 
California. 

Alto-Cumulus 

Alto-cumulus    is     composed    of    small 
masses     of    cumulus     cloud     in     parallel 

Fracto-Cumulus 
Fracto-cumulus.— This  term  is  applied 


to  a  cumulus  cloud  when  its  edges  are  What  Makes  the  Clouds? 

torn   or   shredded   by   the   wind.  Before  ,eaving  thig   subject  ,et  ug  gx_ 

Alto-Stratus  amine  jnto  the  causes  which  underlie  the 

Alto-stratus    is    a    high    stratus    cloud,  fid 
nearly    always    thickening    into    the    or- 

dinary   low   type   and   becomes   a   some-  Formation  of  Clouds 
what  threatening  cloud.     This  formation 

causes   the  solar  and   lunar  coronae.  Minute     nuclei     make     possible     cloud 

Strato-Cumulus  formation.  Laboratory  experiments  dem- 

in    winter,    and    if   present    in    quantities  not    occur    unless    there    is    some    object 

are  a  threatening  indication.     During  the  on     which     the     condensation    can    take 

spring  and   summer,   they  generally   dis-  place,  whether   it  be   a  material  surface, 

Fracto-Stratus  Nuclei    are    necessary    for    the    forma- 

This    is    the    lowest    cloud    form,    and  tion  of  a  water  drop.     It  is  a  most  im- 

is   therefore   only  a   slight   remove  from  portant   fact   that   a   water-drop   can   not 

fog  tattered   by  the  surface  wind.  be    formed    in    the   free   air   unless   there 

Cumulo-Nimbus  first  be  a  nucleus  on  which  the  moisture 

and    the    most    impressive    of  all   cloud  dust     particles     or     ions.      Experiments 


so    that    dust    par 


re    by    far    the 


Fracto-Nimbus 


Among   the   higher   levels,   it   sometimes  the  absence  of  dust  nuclei,  for  we  have 

occurs    as    a    trail    of    cloud    dark    with  no  instance  in  nature  where  the  air  is  so 

moisture  stringing  after  the  larger  cloud,  pure    near    the    earth    that    vapor    could 

sometimes   dissipating  before   the    lower  not   form.     A  beam  of  light,  whether  it 

edges  of  the  veil  reach  the  earth.  be  from   the  sun   or  an  artificial  source, 

Altering   Composition   of  a  Cloud   Mass  shows    innumerable    dust    motes    in    its 

The   study   of   the   composition   of   the  projection   through   the  air.     In  fact,  we 

clouds  is  quite  important  if  we  wish   to  know    that    light    itself    is    made    visible 

tion  of  a   cloud-mass,  whether  a   higher  the    diffusion    of    light.      As    ionized    air 

cloud  is  changing  to  a  lower  variety,  or  permits   condensation    though   dust   may 


ipating — both    processes    ha 


direct       densation  at  the  higher  levels  of  th 


OVER  SAN  DIEGO  BAY   (ELEV.  3000  FT.) 

2:16  p.  m.  July  17.  1919  Camera  faced  SE 

This  photograph  was  made  while  the  ship  was  passing  over  Coronado  ferry.  The 
Coronado  terminal  of  the  ferry  may  be  seen  on  the  right  margin  of  the  picture  as  also 
the  boathousc  of  the  San  Diego  Yacht  Club.  The  ferry  may  be  noticed  just  approaching 
the  San  Diego  slip.  To  the  right  of  the  ferry  slip  are  the  American  Hawaiian  Company's 
docks  and  across  from  these  are  the  old  wharves  of  the  Pacific  Coast  Steamship  Company 
inn!  miilii-ai/  to  the  shore  are  the  clubhouses  of  the  San  Diego  Rowing  Club.  The  smoke  is 
from  the  sawmills  in  the  lower  part  of  town. 


LAXDi\r,  TUJtoran  TKLO 

Klrr.  1500  ft.  2:28  p.  m.  Jul 


LOUDS—  BOCK  WELL  FIELD 

IT,  1919  Camera  faced  SK 


limit  i,f  uliiiitt  In- ire  Unit  distance. 

The  Size  of  a  Drop  of  Water 
The     si/e     of     water     drops     has     been 


cords  from  the  instruments  which 
soared  twenty  miles  and  over,  showed 
that  the  steady  decrease  in  moisture  is 
uniform,  becoming  practically  nil  at  the 
upper  limits. 

It  was  also  found  that  the  velo  cloud 
of    this    coast    extends    upwards    on    an 

the  trade-wind  is  about  two  and  one- 
half  miles  thick;  and  that  the  particles 
composing  the  highest  cirrus  clouds  are 
widely  separated  and  are  continually 
forming  and  re-forming,  generally  at  an 
elevation  exceeding  five  miles. 
In  Nature's  Laboratory 

been  made  either  on  the  ground  or  seat- 
formula.  No  subject  is  of  more  absorb- 


cloudland 


ballo 


Here    are    some    of   the    clouds   which 

warm    and    dry;    if    ascending    they    are       we   studied   and  photographed: 
Becoming      cool       and       moisture-laden.       Cumulo-Nimbus,   the    Lions   of   the    Sky 


Kxper 


by   forest   or   other   fires.     Spectators   of       journey    were    the    cumulo-nimbus.      In 
[he    great    San    Francisco    fire    described       the  air  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  deter- 


inches  per  second.  This  unusually  slow 
rate  led  the  earlier  investigators  to  be- 
lieve that  droplets  were  hollow  spheres, 
hence  the  ve.-icular  theory  of  rain  fnrma- 

glohes.      Ascending    air    currents    readily 

partieles.  often  forcing  them  upward  a 
great  distance.  In  the  case  of  thunder- 
storms, the  cnnvectional  force  is  ter- 


What  Causes  Condensation? 

Condensation  necessary  for  the  forma- 
tion of  clouds  may  be  caused  by  either 
convection  or  contact.  Convectional 
clouds  arc  produced  not  because  the  air 
mass  rises  into  a  colder  region,  but  lie- 
cause  the  mass  itself  has  been  dynamic- 
ally cooled.  Cumulus  clouds,  rain 
clouds,  and  rain  itself,  are  due  to  dy- 
namic cooling. 

How    "Lows"    Cause    Cloudiness 

from  the  great  whirling  eddies  of  the 
atmosphere,  which  are  the  "lows"  of 
the  weather  map.  Local  reduction  in 
atmospheric  pressure  will  also  cause  as- 
cending currents. 
Down  Currents  Give  Fair  Weather,  Up 

Currents  Rain 

Whether  or  not  the  currents  are  as- 
cending or  descending  may  be  readily 
observed  by  the  tips  or  tufts  of  the  cloud 
formation.  If  these  feather  edges  point 


NORTH  ISLAND  AT  1500  FEET 
:t:40  p.  m.  July  17,  1919  Camera  faced  K 

The  tiuildiniiK  in  the  foreground  are  those  of  the  Army  Air  Service  comprising  Rockwell 
Field,  located  on  North  Island.  The  residence  of  the  Commanding  Officer  may  be  seen  just 
under  the  tip  of  wing. 

Across  the  narrow  strip  of  water  (Spanish  Right)  is  Coroniido  and  the  Ifotel  del 
Coronado  may  be  seen  in  the  distance  with  Coronado  Tent  City  just  beyond  on  both  the 
ocean  front  and  the  Bay  of  San  Diego. 


a  towering  cumulus  cloud  which  over- 
hung the  burning  city.  When  a  fierce 
forest  fire  occurs  on  a  calm  day  a  small 
cumulus  cloud  capping  the  smoke 
column  is  not  an  unusual  sight. 
Measurements  Up  to  108,000  Feet  Alti- 
tude 

In  the  summer  of  1913  cloud  investi- 
gations were  carried  on  by  the  aid  of 
free  balloons.  For  example,  the  balloon 
soundings  at  Avalon  in  July  and  August 


descending     and      therefore      becomin 


L-rniost   secrets  of  the  clouds.     The   re- 


mine    whether    a    towering    thunderhead 
is  a  cloud  or  a  mist-covered  mountain. 

At  first  sight  it  was  somewhat  terri- 
fying, for  the  plane  was  apparently 
headed  for  destruction.  But  like  Bun- 
yan's  lions  their  appearance  only  was 
terrifying. 
Anticipation  Far  Exceeded  Realization 

It  was  observed  especially  whether 
the  eddying  wind  movement  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  these  clouds  affected  the  be- 
havior of  the  ship.  It  did  not.  Perhaps 
it  was  owing  to  the  skill  of  the  navi- 


gator 
take 


a    good    sailor 


nough   to  obscure  the   light,  and 
•t  of  the  journey  was  like  travel- 


or   rolling. 


LEAVING  ROCKWELL  FIELD   (ELEV.  2250  FEET) 

3:45  p.  m.  July  17,  1919  Camera  faced  E 

This  photoi/i-fiph  xhon-s  Coronado  from  Rocku-ell  Field.  To  the  north  may  be  seen  San 
Diego  bay,  with  the  San  T>iego-Coronado  Ferry  slip.  In  the  immediate  foreground  is 
Spanish  Bight  which  is  now  bridged  by  a  causeway.  The  racetrack  and  golf  links  of  the 
Country  Club  skirt  the  Bight.  Glorietta  Bay  is  all  but  hidden  by  a  cloud  as  is  also  Hotel 
del  Coronado.  Beyond  the  limits  of  Coronado  may  be  seen  the  upper  reaches  of  San  Diego 
Bay.  The  ship's  course  at  the  time  this  photograph  was  made  was  due  south. 

Cirro-Cumulus   the   Sheep  of  the   Sky  Recognizing  An  Old  Friend 

If   the   thunderheads   are   the   lions   of  The   m;nutes   sped   by   so   rapidly   that 

the  sky,  then  the  cirro-cumulus  are   the       before    j    realized   it   the   long   low-lying 


ilus  my  notes  say: 


cirro-cumulus    cloud-flecked   air    a 
from  above.' 

As  these  cirro-cumulus  clouds  1 
more   closely  packed  it  was  like 

We  passed  through  several;  som 


ecame 
sailing 
lother. 


the    coast    resolved    itself    into    our    old 
familiar  friend  the  Velo  cloud. 

The   Velo  Cloud 

This   cloud   is   peculiarly   a  product  of 
the    Pacific   coast;    of   all   the   delightful 


memories 
sticks  cloi 


of    San    Diego    the    one    that 
est  is  that  of  this  early  morn- 


SAN  DIEGO  BAT  FROM  ABOVE  POINT  LOMA 
Eler.  3000  ft.  3:50  p.  m,  July  17,  1919  Camera  faced  SE 

The  ship's  course  paralleled  Point  Loma.  7»i  the  foreground  are  the  roads  of  the 
Thcosophical  Headquarters,  in  the  middle  foreground  is  Dutch  Flats  and  cutting  the  left 
portion  of  the  picture  (near  right  wing  of  airplane)  is  the  Santa  Fe  tracks  entering  Old 
Town.  The  extreme  right  is  the  Coronado  shore.  The  greater  portion  i>f  the  city  of  Ran 
Diego  is  shrouded  in  cloud  and  fog. 


ing  and  late  evening  cloud.  The  writer 
described  this  cloud  in  a  small  volume 
on  local  climatology*  from  which  the 
following  has  been  condensed: 

"El  Velo  De  La  I.uz" 
The  challenge,  "We  all  know  the  win- 
ters are  warm  in  San  Diego,  therefore 
the  summers  must  be  hot,"  constitutes 
the  most  common  misunderstanding  of 
San  Diego's  cool  summers.  The  fact 
that  there  is  less  than  one  hour  per 
year  above  90  degrees  is  not  easy  to 
explain,  until  we  remember  the  old  Mex- 
ican phrase,  El  velo  de  la  luz,  "The 
veil  that  hides  the  light."  This  is  a  folk- 
lore expression,  originating  not  only 
before  the  Gringo  came,  but,  doubtless, 
long  before  the  coming  of  the  old  Span- 
ish conquistadors.  The  better-known 
English  term,  "high  fog,"  has,  in  com- 

a   double   meaning,   and   it   is  misleading 


POINT  LOMA    WITH  BALLAST  POINT 

IN  FOREGROUND  (ELEV.  2250  FT.) 
3:47  p.  m.  July  17,  1919  Camera  faced  SH' 
The  Lighthouse  reservation  on  Ballast 
Point  may  be  seen  in  the  foreground,  and 
partially  enshroudi-d  in  fog  and  jutting  out 
into  it  is  the  headland  of  Point  Loma. 

It  is  not  fog  in  the  generally  accepted 
meaning,  for  this  "light  veil"  is  neither 
cold  nor  excessively  moisture-laden. 
Neither  is  it  high,  for  its  altitude  is  less 
than  a  thousand  feet. 


*  Climate  and  Weather  of  San  Diego, 
by  Ford  A.  Carpenter,  Mount  Pleasant 
Press,  1913. 


er  observations  began  shows  a  mean  of 
about  78  degrees. 

Formation  of  the  Velo 
The  cause  of  the  formation  of  the. 
velo  cloud  and,  consequently,  the  cool 
summers  of  San  Diego,  is,  strange  to 
say,  found  in  the  hot  weather  in  the 
interior  of  California  and  Arizona.  It 
is  a  unique  example  of  the  aptness  of 

nobody  good." 

The  hot  weather  in  the  interior  pro- 
duces an  aerial  eddy  (the  "low"  of  the 
weather  map),  and  the  difference  in  at- 
mospheric pressure  between  the  inter- 
ior and  the  ocean  results  in  giving  San 
Diego  cool,  uniform  days  and  nights, 
free  from  extremes,  or  what  is  really 
the  summer  temperature  of  the  Pacific 
ocean.  The  velo  cloud  should  there- 


Tli,    ,;,<idx   ,,-i,,,n,i,i    iii!   Mount    N,,led,id    (1(10(1   feet    liii/ii)    m,n/  lie  observed  in    the   miilille 
foreground. 

cabulary,  and  it  s 
nomer   "high    fog. 
Lakes  as  Se 

hotild  replace  the  mis- 
en  From  the  Air 

,-,,1    '""                                                                                              Screening   Effect 

was  no  exception 
Owing    to    the 

to  the  rule, 
time    of    the    year    the 
ilicial    lake    was    some- 

Hi-    said:                                                                          sun  breaks  through   the  velo  cloud  about 

the    lake. 

word  "velo"  is  brought   to  light.  The 

lovely  diaphanous  cloud  that,  of  a 
midsummer's  morning  shades  San 
Diego's  brilliant  sun  until  such  time 
as  the  "veil"  is  swept  aside  by  tin- 
ocean  breeze,  whose  cooling  breath 


f    the 
e   that 


perfect    day    by    the    "Har 

Sun."      I    have   always    felt 

those      line      old      Spaniards      never 

damned   so  good  a   tiling  by  such   an 

abusive     and     misleading     term     as 

yet  very  old.  word  "velo,"  I   remem- 

ber that  one  day  in   April,  when   off 

the  coast  of  Lower  California,  an  in- 

telligent      Spanish       gentleman       re- 

ferred   to    this   very   cloud    condition 

as  the  "velo  c|iii  cubre  la  luz  del  sol." 

I  also  heard  it  spoken  of  as  "el  velo 

de   la   manana."   showing   that,  while 

many   phrases  are   used,   the   leading 

idea  is  the  poetic  one  of  a  "veil." 

The  Velo  Is  a  Characteristic  Cloud 

While    the    velo    cloud    is   common 
the  Pacific  coast  generally,  and  has  be 
observed   as   far   north   as   the   Straits  of       terwards  and  remaining  free  from  cloud 
Fuca.   this   cloud    reached    its   perfection       until   about   sunset. 

over  the  littoral  region  of  Southern  Cal-  That   the   velo   cloud   is   effective   as 

ifornia.  sun-shield,    it    needs    only    to    be    state 

The  velo  cloud  is  the  chief  character-       that   the  average   of  all    the  July   maxi 


ALUGATOS  UK  AD  AM)  I.  A  JOf.I.A  CAl'KS   (KLKV.    tl()0   /'"/'. 

:t:~>r>  /i.   m.  ,/«///    17,    llllil  Ctnnerii   fueeil   K 
•tlli<i<itf>r  lienil  i.v  In  the  rif/lil.  the  ('tires  In  llu    lift   hetirun   /hem   ix  the  fit 


mtiile    throniili    tittenutited    rein   elands 
unumutUy    nuii/h  ;    the   heiiri/   xiretl    nut 

thip't  staj/. 


eoreretl    the    neetin 
•it/lit,    near  the  xlui 


te  disconcerting 


decided   that   the   lake   had   be 
since   the   map   was   printed. 
This    is    another   example    r 


XEAB  OCEAXSWE   (ELE]'.  4050  FEET) 
4:10  p.  m.  July  17,   1919  Camera  faced  E 

The  ship  ten*  skirting  the  coast  and  skimming  along  over  thin  velo  clouds.  The  city  of 
may  be  observed  in  about  Die  center  of  the  middle  foreground.  Note  the  long 
,1-liiirf  irliifh  extends  out  into  the  surf-fringed  ocean.  The  hotel  and  railroad  station  may 
be  observed  near  the  intersection  of  the  road  from  the  wharf  and  the  state  highway. 


showing   very    clearly    the    necessity    fc 
accurate     maps,     but     filling    that    war 


A    Naval   Encampment 

Utilizing    the    distinctly    artistic     San 


if  there  is  one  thing  that  has  caused 
more  damage  to  aircraft  and  death  to 
aviators  it  has  been  defective  maps. 

Aerial    Mapmaking    a    Profession 

Aerial  mapping  by  photography  is 
one  of  the  good  things  that  has  come 
from  the  war.  It  is  a  profession  all  in 
itself  and  the  work  that  has  been  ac- 
complished in  these  lines  marks  a  won- 
derful advance  both  in  photography  and 
in  the  manufacture  of  charts. 

The  mapping  of  the  San  Diego  Bay 
region  by  the  51st  Aero  Squadron  early 

This  particular  map  was  produced  by 
making  a  mosaic  of  not  less  than  forty 
five  hundred  photographs. 

These  infinite  number  of  photographs 
were  reduced  and  copied  so  as  to  present 
an  appearance  to  the  beholder  as  if 
the  ground  were  viewed  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  25.000  feet. 

A  Military  Encampment 

Less  than  ten  minutes  after  we  passed 

over    Lake    Hodges    we    reached   Camp 


no  uncertain  way  when  it  placed  its 
magnificent  park  at  the  disposal  of  the 
naval  authorities.  We  glided  over  this 
district  on  the  same  level  that  we  passed 

compassed  in  the  scope  of  the  six  inch 
focus  lens  of  the  camera. 

Coloring  From  the  Air 
I  never  cease  to  marvel,  when  in 
either  an  airplane  or  in  a  balloon,  at 
the  marvelous  colors  which  spread  out 
beneath  one.  This  was  especially  true 
in  negotiating  the  air  over  the  beauti- 
ful grounds  of  the  thousand-acre  park, 
not  long  since  the  scene  of  the  Panama- 
Pacific  Exposition.  Owing  to  the  ver- 
tical vision  there  is  advantage  about 
airplane  and  balloon  observation  total- 
ly lacking  in  any  other  view. 

to  an  exquisite  Persian  rug  spread  out 
beneath  them.  Be  that  as  it  may  every 
field,  every  kind  of  crop,  the  vary- 
ing geological  formations  all  stand  out 
with  startling  clearness.  Viewed  from 
above,  low  trees,  brush  and  other  chap- 


This    marvelous    mesa    extending  -just  downiness.     I  have  often  thought  that  a 

beyond  the  San  Diego  river  over  a  dis-  good  colorist  could  make   his  fortune   if 

trict     ideal     for     camp    and    manoeuvers  he  would  paint  from  a  balloon  basket  or 

has   lain  practically  idle  for  all  of  these  the   cockpit   of  an   airplane. 

years.     Thanks  to  the  generosity  of  the  As  in  all  art  there  is  no  gain  without 

citizens   of    San    Diego   this    magnificent  some    loss.      Although    the    colors   stand 


district,    pe 


drainage  and  climatic  conditions,  formed  the    mountains    and    the    beauty    of    the 

probably  one  of  the  finest  locations  for  canyons  and  the  running  streams  is  lost. 

a  military  camp.  In    my    opinion    there    is    still    but    one 

A   very  comprehensive  view   of   Camp  way  to  enjoy  nature  and  that  is  on  foot 

Kearny    was    secured    at    the    elevation  or  on  horseback.     The  airplane  is  no  im- 

of  8,000   feet   which   was   the   level    over  provement  over   the  automobile   for  the 

which  we  passed  the  camp.  enjoyment   of   scenery. 


Los  Angeles  Landing   Fields 

As  the  ship  swung  to  the  northeast 
shortly  after  passing  over  Long  Beach, 
we  entered  what  might  well  be  termed 
the  zone  of  maximum  activity  in  ap- 
plied aeronautics;  that  is,  the  region 
embraced  by  the  corporate  limits  of 
Los  Angeles  and  its  vicinity. 

There  are  some  thirteen  landing 
fields  in  and  about  Los  Angeles;  a  few 
are  laid  out  and  marked  in  accordance 
with  regulations,  others  are  merely  con- 
in  cases  of  emergencies. 

Agriculture  vs.  Aeronautics 

ing    landing    fields    is    the    utilization    of 

al  uses.  For  example,  as  we  flew  over 
the  recently  acquired  property  of  the 
Goodyear  Company  at  Ascot  Park  our 
glasses  showed  all  of  the  proposed  aero 
field  to  be  set  out  in  cabbages! 

Level  stretches  of  property  within 
ready  access  of  transportation  lines  and 

out  paying  from  $500  to  $2,000  per  acre. 

field  is  now  necessary  to  safely  land  a 
large  airplane,  it  is  then  realized  that 


LOOKING    UP    LAGVNA    CANYON 
Elev.  4300  Ft.  4:40  p.  m.  July  17,  1919 

Camera  faced  NE 

The  village  of  Laguna  is  above  the  series 
of  cliffs  which  are  considerably  over  100 
feet  above  the  sea.  Laguna  canyon  reaches 
far  back  into  the  mountains  towards  the 
San  Joaquin  ranch.  The  mountain  in  the 
distance  is  Santiago  Peak,  5000  feet  high, 
or  about  700  feet  above  the  lecel  of  the 


PIP    III  IP 


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LONG  BEACH  AND  SAN  PEDRO  BAY   (ELEV.  6000   FT.) 

5:00  p.  m.  July  17,  1919  Camera  faced  NW 

The  city  of  Long  Beach  is  in  the  foreground,  San  Pedro  bay  in  to  tin1  left 
Firmin  is  in  the  distance.     The  Palos  VerO.es  hills  are  in  the  background. 


proportions.      I1 
i.  e..  the  field  i: 


is     oriented     properly,       tionship   to   the   prevailing   winds,   and   it 
rightly  located  in   rela-       is  of  proper  size.     The  Goodyear  people 


SIGNAL  HILL  NEAR  LONG  BEACH 
Kiev.  6150  ft.  5:05  p.  m.  July  17,  1919 

Camera  faced  SW 

Signal  Hill  and  surrounding  truck  gar- 
dens are  in  the  center  of  the  photograph; 
Long  Beach  is  in  the  background. 

there    are    some    serious    difficulties    in 


and  lay  out  these  fields. 

The    Municipal    Landing    Field    of    Los 

Angeles 

Seen   from   the   air,   the   "Field   of   the 
Flying    Foot"    as    the    Ascot    Park    will 


SOUTHWESTERN  PORTION   OF  LOS   ANGELES    (ELEV.    1300) 

6:05  p.  m.  July  17,  1919  Camera  faced  NE 
The  San  Gabriel  range  is  in  the  background;  Wilshire  boulevard  is  in  the  foregr 


SOUTHEASTERN  LOS  ANGELES  AND  DRAINAGE  AREA  OF  THE  LOS  ANGELES  RIl'ER  (ELEV.  5300  FT.) 

5:15  p.  m.  July  17,  1919  Camera  fated  N 
The  right  foreground  shows  the  Los  Angeles  and  Rio  Hondo.     The  rectangular  marks  are  the  city  streets  of  Los  Angeles, 


this  field,  permitting  the  city  of  Los 
Angeles  to  use  it  as  a  municipal  air- 
drome. Private  aviation  interests  may 
also  use  it  in  their  public  work;  all 
uses  subject  to  regulations  which  the 
company  propose  to  make  as  easy  of 
compliance  as  circumstances  will  allow. 

Landing  Fields  Are  Harbors 
It  is  hardly  necessary  to  repeat  what 
may  be  termed  an  aeronautic  axiom  that 
landing  fields  are  as  necessary  to  air- 
craft as  harbors  are  to  ships.  The  value 
of  a  landing  held,  like  a  harbor,  is  in 
proportion  to  its  size,  proximity  to 


Skirting  the  Coast  in  an  Airplane 

The  plane  emerged  from  the  cloud 
and  the  backbone  of  Point  Loma  was 
beneath  us.  From  this  time  on  until 
we  swung  inland  near  Point  Firmin  the 
trip  was  that  of  a  seaplane.  For  nearly 
one  hundred  miles  the  plane  thundered 
its  way  on  an  even  keel  four  thousand 
feet  above  the  shimmering  sea.  When- 
ever the  ship  swung  towards  the  shore 
even  ever  so  slightly  the  differing  paths 
could  be  readily  determined  by  the  con- 


the    southern    outskirts    of    the    city, 
the     northwest     was     the     luce     Field. 
Venice;    nearly    to    the    west    the    Cuh 
Fu.-ld:   and   to   the   north,   the    Syd   Ch: 
liu    and     the     I  >c     Milk-     Fields.       Sele 

leveled  off  and  made  a  good   landing. 
The   Three   Thousand-Foot   Level 
A    glance    at    the    reproduction    of    I 
barograph     recor.ls     on     this     page     v 


itrancing  when  Hying  over  the  fields, 
.  also  was  the  sight  when  skimming 
ic  meadows  of  the  sea  with  its  acres 
id  acres  of  exquisitely  colored  sea- 
eed.  This  was  especially  in  evidence 


is    we    winged    our    way    over    La    Jolhi 

>palescent  cliffs   of   Del   Mar.     The  huir 
if    the    motor    and    the    singing    of    the 


A   Physiolog 


iperati 
i    drov\ 


s  k( 


which     he     kep 
Angeles    and    i 


Self-Examination 

fortablv  and  calmly  in  the 
kpit  I  took  advantage  of 
ty  for  a  careful  self-exam- 
the  effect  of  flying  on  tin- 


Uniform    Flying    Ordinance 

criminate  living  over  cities  should  be 
vigorously  discouraged.  It  is  a  hopeful 

in  southern  California  so  that  uniform 
flying  laws  may  be  in  effect  through- 
out the  various  cities  and  counties  of 
this  district.  I  he  southern  (  aliforma 
City  Attorneys'  association  has  this 
matter  in  hand  and  expect  to  offer  for 
ratification  a  series  of  sensible  ordin- 


concerned.      1    reviewed    the    pulse    test 

which  I  had  made  at  differing  elev; 
lions:  at  10,000  feet  or  at  2,000  ther 
was  not  the  difference  of  half  a  doze 
beats.  The  bodily  temperature  rcmaine 
the  same  at  different  altitudes.  In  th 


Over  Point  Loma 

As  the  ship  headed  straigh 
Point  Loma  and  Ballast  Poin 
dimly  seen  beneath  us  throng 


the  same  field,  and  also  in  an  arm/ 
plane.  The  sensations  then  were  of 
extreme  novelty,  and  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, that  it  was  with  some  trepida- 
tion that  that  early  journey  was  be- 
gun. And,  now  what  a  difference!  Then 
flyiriK  was  in  its  infancy;  the  late  Major 
Oscar  Brindley  was  my  pilot  and  in 
1915  we  used  the  latest  machine.  No.  50. 
Today's  plane  was  No.  41,913,  and  by 


!-rcn   'Mela  tD  7>ocV.ell   ?i°ld 

Air"l-ne   #419131 

Lieut.'?.    "..    "Been',  '  .~.C..  )rn- 


'n=-files.  J-a?   17.1P19 
») 


IL  Kirch  ?i*14(10  rallfto  32  o^  Riverside 
£  aookfleld  Firldf 2  miles   33  of  Son  ^lexo 
C  D«  Villa  TMelif?  iMl^s  '7  of  los   Angles 


fTrpolngB   at  frep-ln-.ln?  r -4   e.'i3    show  trolley   trip   fram&to   los   Angeles 
Total  mileage  286;tline.239  r-inutes im^l.Tum  sleTatlan.lb.MO  ft.   at 
2;25  ^.r. 


*  Aviator    and     the     Weather     Bureai 
Ford  -A-  Carpenter,  San   Diego,   1915. 


PHOTOGRAPHIC 

The  metcorolntiiHl  rttrriril  tiro  n 
jihotof/raphi'd  abiirr.  xlunc  I  hi'  initom 
note*  are  self -explanatory. 


)PY  OF   BAS06SAPH   11KCOKD 

ir  ri'i/ixtiring  of  each  miniite  of  the  j(iurnrii«.     Tin 


sudden    drop    from    10,000    feet    to    sea- 
level  at   Rockwell   Field   I   noticed  pains 


familiar    with.      My    own    practice    is    to       second     barograph 
use  a  common   kodak  fitted  with   a   fine       feet  to  spare. 


ith     five     thousand 


although    being    readily    subject    to    sea- 

my    first    journey,    many    years    ago,    I 

foot,     horseback,     automobile,     railroad, 
balloon     or    airplane.       In     fact     on     all 

could  hear  myself  shout  in  a  plane.     Re- 
moving the   helmet    I   yelled  at   the   top 

that  there   is  no   foreground   in  the   air! 
Also,  there  is  no  need   for  focusing.     It 

record  of  every  moment  of  the  journey. 
The  Homeward   Flight 

the    motor    and    the    hurricane    blast    of 

and    the    shutter    and    diaphragm    at   ap- 

After     traversing     more     than     half    a 
hundred   miles   of   air   fragrant   with   or- 

be  distinguished.           . 
Wind  Effect  of  Debouching  Canyons 

as  man  would  a  machine-gun. 
One   precaution    is    necessary    in    the 
air:    the    film   must     be     rolled    up     with 

and  dropped  into  the  home  field.     A  few 
minutes  after  landing  I  was  on  a  motor- 

there  is  no  appreciable  effect  on  travel- 
ing past  the  mouth  of  canyons  debouch- 
ing into  the  sea.     In  order  to  prove  or 
disprove  this  the  following  observations 

the    spool    will    cause    static    in    the    dry 
air  of   these   elevations  with   consequent 
hair  lines  and  blotches  on  the  film.  The 
film  must  be  handled  with  extreme  care 

through    the    hospitable    arches    of    the 
Mission    Inn.      Here    was    where    I    had 
lunched    only    a    few    hours    before    and 
now    the     cool     and     quiet     interior    and 

coast  from  Point  Loma  to  Point  Firmin 
is  furrowed  by  deep  canyons  emptying 
into  the  ocean.  The  speed  of  the  plane 
was  too  rapid  to  permit  a  view  of  ap- 
proaching canyons,  so  for  several  min- 
utes at  a  time  I  closed  my  eyes  in  or- 
der that  sight  might  not  confuse  a  pre- 
conceived notion,  only  opening  them 
when  the  ship  lurched.  Five  observa- 
tions thus  made  of  slight  sideslips  were 
directly  traceable  to  the  passing  of  can- 
yon mouths. 

Photographic   Equipment 

Perhaps  a  word  as  to  the  photo- 
graphic equipment  used  in  this  journey 
through  "the  landscape  of  the  sky." 

It  has  long  been  my  feeling  that  it 
was  the  man  behind  the  gun  rather  than 
the  gun  that  brought  down  the  game, — 
but  that  goes  without  saying.  At  any 
rate  I  think  that  a  man  should  take 


Instruments  Used  on  the  Trip 
Before  bringing  this  narrative  to  a 
close  it  might  be  worth  while  to  men- 
tion some  of  the  instruments  used  inde- 
pendently of  the  regulation  altimeter, 
compass,  etc.  I  refer  to  the  photo- 
graphic and  meteorological  apparatus. 


ter     of     the     Inn     added     the     finishing 


inner. 
And  thus  this  air  trip  was  ended  nine- 


and 


sixty  over  the  orange  and  lemon  groves. 
Into    these    four    hours    of    flying    were 
crowded  studies  of  air  currents;   photo- 
atus'  graphing  of  clouds  at  close  range;  test- 

ing out  of  some  intutional   theories  and 
the  intimate  observation  of  land,  sea  and 
Two    barographs   were    taken    on    this       sky.     So   much   was   thus   made   possible 
journey,     one     recording     on     an     open       in    so   little    time   that   to   my   mind   this 


Barograph  Record  of  Jou 


sea 


id  fe 


to  fifteen  thousand  feet.  As  will  be  seen  in    flying — the    expansion    of    time.      In 

by   the   reproduction   on    this   page   both  obeying   the   scriptural   injunction   "shall 

instruments     gave      highly     comparable  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles''  the  air- 

and   therefore   satisfactory   results.      Na-  man  takes  hold  upon  divinity  for  can  he 

turally   the   needle   passed   off  the   limits  not  also  say  with  scripture  "One  day  is 

of  the  sheet  on  the  first  instrument,  but  with  the  Lord  as  a  thousand  years,  and 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

Books  not  returned  on  time  are  subject  to  a  fine  of 
volume  after 


per  volume  after  the  third  day  overdue,  increasing 
$1.00  per  volume  after  the  sixth  day.     Books  not  in 


RECTD  LD 
flUG  20  1962 


YE  039" 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


